Pygmy Heleia

Small flycatcher with a gray head, an olive-brown back, a whitish throat, and a yellow belly. Note the white eyebrow and broken eye-ring. Occurs in woodland and scrub; migrates to the northeast during the austral winter. The song is a single note followed by a trill: “twie tirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.” The similar White-crested Tyrannulet has a different song and is also slightly larger, with a white crown patch that is often concealed.

Rare hummingbird of cloud forest on the east slope of the Andes. Male is mostly green with darker throat and white tips to the inner tail feathers that combine to form a round spot. On female, note green scaling on white underparts, white mustache stripe, white tail corners, and buff tinge on vent (but not on thighs). Female very similar to female Booted Racket-tail but is more heavily scaled on throat and has white thighs. Typically found at forest edge or in clearings, feeding at any height, and occasionally visits feeders.

A secretive, but not shy, inhabitant of dense thickets in a wide variety of habitats from wet forests to dry scrublands and gardens. Dark gray to black body combined with an orange-red eyebrow, throat, and vent are unique within its range. It is often heard before seen. Song is an unimpressive series of high-pitched “zit” or “seet” notes, sometimes followed by high thin buzz. Call similar to individual notes from song.